Shoezone Shuts Inverness Store, Locals Left Fuming
High-street favourite Shoezone has announced it will close its Inverness branch, much to the disappointment of local shoppers. The closure means loyal customers will face a long trek to find their nearest store.
Long Haul to Peterhead Now Required
The Inverness store will join 13 other Shoezone outlets closed throughout 2023 as the retailer battles tough market conditions. Once the shop shuts its doors, shoppers will need to drive three hours to Aberdeenshire’s Peterhead branch — the closest alternative. Closure notices are already up, but an exact cut-off date hasn’t been confirmed.
Shoppers React: “Very Sad”
The news has sparked an outcry on social media. One local wrote on Facebook: “God, another long-time shop closing. Very sad. Great prices plus they were pet-friendly.” Another simply said: “Oh no.”
More Closures Ahead as High Street Struggles
Shoezone aims to shut several more stores by the end of 2024, including branches in Ipswich, Newton Abbot, Hinckley, Cromer, and Weymouth. The retailer has already closed 13 stores in 2023 alone and a staggering 63 between 2020 and 2021.
Despite the gloom, there’s a silver lining: two of the closing stores will relocate, and others are set for upgrades, promising improved footwear selections for some communities.
High Street Hit by Pandemic and Inflation
The wave of closures hits amid wider trouble on Britain’s high streets, hammered by rising energy costs and the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Office for National Statistics figures show retail sales volumes dipped 3.2% in December, while the Centre for Retail Research reports over 10,000 shops and nearly 120,000 retail jobs vanished in 2023 alone.
